“I thought, ‘This guy is very complete’” - Cedric names Arsenal star who ‘surprised’ him in training
Former Arsenal defender Cedric Soares has revealed that he was surprised by how Gabriel Jesus trained after he arrived at the club. The full-back claimed that the Brazilian striker was a complete player who helped the team.
Cedric, currently a free agent, spent a significant amount of time with the Gunners. The Portuguese has made 64 appearances for Mikel Arteta's side, scoring twice and providing five assists.
Jesus, meanwhile, joined the north London club from Manchester City in 2022. Cedric has now given an insight into training with Jesus. He said (via Tribal Football):
"Gabriel Jesus surprised me when he arrived. I trained with him, and I thought, 'Wow! this guy is very complete.' He'll help us a lot. He's not a player tied to statistics, but he gives a lot to the team."
Jesus has been a key player for the Gunners since joining the club. He has so far scored 19 goals and has provided 15 assists in 69 appearances across competitions.
However, the striker's contributions can't only be measured in goals. The Brazilian offers a lot in the build-up play and also contributes when the Gunners press from the front. Arsenal have finished second in the Premier League for two consecutive seasons since Jesus joined the club.
Arsenal eyeing Serie A superstar as an upgrade on Gabriel Jesus
Arsenal are reportedly eyeing a move for Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez as an upgrade on Gabriel Jesus. While Jesus has contributed to the team, he hasn't been free-scoring.
Arteta is reportedly keen on adding a player who can find the back of the net regularly. Jesus has emerged as an option. As per Todofichajes, the Gunners are ready to spend around €90 million to sign Martinez.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner played a starring role as Inter Milan won the Serie A this season. He scored 27 goals and provided seven assists in 44 appearances across competitions.
Martinez has a contract with Inter until the end of the 2025-26 season. He has an estimated market value of €110 million, which means the Gunners might need to break the bank to add the Argentine to their ranks.